How Will Self-Driving Cars Change the Transportation Industry?

Testing models are already driving around the state’s capital, but we’ve got a long way to go before they hit the general market.

By Alain StephensJanuary 7, 2016 10:09 am

For most of us, driving is more of a hassle than a joy. You have to deal with the traffic, other drivers, and don’t forget the weather. Not to mention the difficulties of trying to do anything like eat breakfast or put on makeup on your way to work.

Luckily for us, tech developers seized the opportunity to develop driverless cars and they may just be right around the corner. Digital savant Omar Gallaga of the Austin American-Statesman explains the push for autonomous vehicles.

Gallaga predicted self-driving, or driverless, cars as a tech trend for 2016. He says Austin already has a few of Google’s prototype self-driving cars, but as far as owning one yourself, Gallaga says that’ll be several years down the road.

What you’ll hear in this segment:

– What companies with testing models are working on right now.

– What the conversation around driverless vehicles is during this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, underway in Las Vegas this week

– Software challenges that developers are running up against

– Factors that may influence the transportation industry, like cab and delivery drivers